Sol-gel synthesis of silver/titanium dioxide (Ag/TiO_2) core-shell nanowires for photocatalytic applications

摘要

Silver/titanium dioxide (Ag/TiO_2) core-shell nanowires were synthesized by direct coating of TiO_2 shells on the surface of silver nanowires (AgNWs) through a simple sol-gel process. TEM image and EDX elemental analysis had confirmed the presence of TiO_2 coating on the surface of AgNWs. The thickness of titanium dioxide coating was about 10 nm. These Ag/TiO_2 core-shell nanowires showed good photocatalytic activities in the decomposition of methylene blue as a model organic dye in aqueous solution under UV light irradiation. Ag/TiO_2 core-shell nanowires are potentially useful in photocatalytic applications.